Integrated optomechanical ultrasonic sensors with nano-Pascal-level sensitivity

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Cao, Xuening, Yang, Hao, Wang, Min, Hu, Zhi-Gang, Wu, Zu-Lei, Wang, Yuanlei, Liu, Jian-Fei, Zhou, Xin, Li, Jincheng, Lao, Chenghao, Yang, Qi-Fan, Li, Bei-Bei
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Cao, Xuening
Yang, Hao
Wang, Min
Hu, Zhi-Gang
Wu, Zu-Lei
Wang, Yuanlei
Liu, Jian-Fei
Zhou, Xin
Li, Jincheng
Lao, Chenghao
Yang, Qi-Fan
Li, Bei-Bei
author_facet Cao, Xuening
Yang, Hao
Wang, Min
Hu, Zhi-Gang
Wu, Zu-Lei
Wang, Yuanlei
Liu, Jian-Fei
Zhou, Xin
Li, Jincheng
Lao, Chenghao
Yang, Qi-Fan
Li, Bei-Bei
contents Ultrasonic sensors are widely used for object detection and localization in underwater and biological settings. The operational range and spatial resolution are inherently limited by sensor sensitivity, in which conventional piezoelectric transducers have been overwhelmed by advanced photonic sensors. Here, we demonstrate an optomechanical ultrasonic sensor integrated into a photonic platform, which comprises a suspended SiO2 membrane embedded with a high-Q Si3N4 microring resonator. By exploiting simultaneous optical and mechanical resonances, the sensor achieves a record low noise-equivalent pressure (NEP) of 218 nPa/Hz^1/2 at 289 kHz in air and 9.6 nPa/Hz^1/2 at 52 kHz in water. We demonstrate its versatility through photoacoustic gas spectroscopy in air and underwater ultrasound imaging, achieving a minimum detectable C2H2 concentration of 2.9 ppm (integration time 1 s) and an imaging resolution of 1.89 mm, respectively. Our work represents a significant advancement in compact CMOS-compatible ultrasound sensing, unlocking new possibilities in biomedical imaging, environmental monitoring, industrial testing, and underwater communications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_20219
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Integrated optomechanical ultrasonic sensors with nano-Pascal-level sensitivity
Cao, Xuening
Yang, Hao
Wang, Min
Hu, Zhi-Gang
Wu, Zu-Lei
Wang, Yuanlei
Liu, Jian-Fei
Zhou, Xin
Li, Jincheng
Lao, Chenghao
Yang, Qi-Fan
Li, Bei-Bei
Optics
Instrumentation and Detectors
Ultrasonic sensors are widely used for object detection and localization in underwater and biological settings. The operational range and spatial resolution are inherently limited by sensor sensitivity, in which conventional piezoelectric transducers have been overwhelmed by advanced photonic sensors. Here, we demonstrate an optomechanical ultrasonic sensor integrated into a photonic platform, which comprises a suspended SiO2 membrane embedded with a high-Q Si3N4 microring resonator. By exploiting simultaneous optical and mechanical resonances, the sensor achieves a record low noise-equivalent pressure (NEP) of 218 nPa/Hz^1/2 at 289 kHz in air and 9.6 nPa/Hz^1/2 at 52 kHz in water. We demonstrate its versatility through photoacoustic gas spectroscopy in air and underwater ultrasound imaging, achieving a minimum detectable C2H2 concentration of 2.9 ppm (integration time 1 s) and an imaging resolution of 1.89 mm, respectively. Our work represents a significant advancement in compact CMOS-compatible ultrasound sensing, unlocking new possibilities in biomedical imaging, environmental monitoring, industrial testing, and underwater communications.
title Integrated optomechanical ultrasonic sensors with nano-Pascal-level sensitivity
topic Optics
Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.20219